Concordia Women's Soccer Remains at No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the third time in as many
weeks, No. 1 Concordia (Ore.) earns top-billing in the 2012 NAIA Women's
Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The
Cavaliers were awarded 20 first-place votes for 591 points in the
fourth edition of the poll. Concordia, who has been dormant since Sept.
15, boasts a 6-0-2 record and will next take to the field in its Cascade
Collegiate Conference opener against Warner Pacific (Ore.) on Saturday.

Second-ranked Lee (Tenn.) and No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) retained their
spot in the poll for the second-straight week with 572 and 553 points,
respectively. Lee was also awarded the remaining first-place vote.
Sliding up one spot each were No. 4 Oklahoma City (533 points) and No. 5
Mobile (Ala.) (506 points). After starting the season at No. 11 in the
Preseason Top 25 Poll, Oklahoma City has climbed into the top four for
the first time since the Stars were ranked third in the 2001 Final Top
25 Poll (Oct. 30).

Outside of the top three, only three teams - No. 13 Auburn Montgomery
(Ala.), No. 18 Graceland (Iowa) and No. 20 Westminster (Utah) -
maintained their position among the Top 25. The biggest improvement
within the poll was by Cal State San Marcos, who vaulted six spots to
No. 11. The Cougars were 2-0 last week with victories against then-No. 7
Westmont (Calif.) (now No. 9), 3-2, on Sept. 18 and at then-No. 12
Vanguard (Calif.) (now No. 17), 2-1, on Sept. 22. No. 24 Judson (Ill.)
experienced the largest drop, falling 10 positions after losing
two-straight games.

No. 21 Trinity International (Ill.) and No. 25 Ashford (Iowa) are the
newcomers to the poll. Ashford is sporting its first national ranking in
the polls, dating back to 1999, and is 7-2-0. Trinity International's
inclusion marks the first rating since being No. 21 on Nov. 4, 2008.

Twelve conferences/independent/unaffiliated groups are represented
throughout the Top 25, led by four programs from the Southern States
Athletic Conference - Lee, Mobile, No. 8 William Carey (Miss.) and
Auburn Montgomery - and the Golden State Athletic Conference - Westmont,
Vanguard, No. 14 Concordia (Calif.) and No. 23 The Masters (Calif.).

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of
the conference/independent/unaffiliated groups. The first NAIA Modified
Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI) will be announced on Wednesday by 5
p.m. CST. The next Top 25 will be announced on Oct. 2.

Notes: (All information dates back to 1999) Concordia
(Ore.) earns the No. 1 ranking for the third-straight week and 13th
all-time ... Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) owns the most No. 1 rankings all-time
with 41, followed by former NAIA member Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (33),
Westmont (Calif.) (19), Concordia (13), Lee (Tenn.) (11) and Martin
Methodist (10) ... Lindsey Wilson owns the longest current active streak
of consecutive appearances in the Top 25 with 141 ... Concordia (120)
and Lee (102) are the only other programs to occupy a spot in the poll
100-or-more consecutive weeks ... The Blue Raiders also lead the way
with consecutive weeks at No. 1 with 13, spanning the 2004 - 2005
seasons ... The 2011 Lee squad is the first team to start and end the
season at No. 1 ... William Carey's No. 10 rating on Sept. 18 marked the
first time the Crusaders have been in the top-10 since Sept. 6, 2011
(No. 7) ... No. 25 Ashford (Iowa) is making its first appearance ...
Seven of the top-10 teams have been ranked in the top-10 in every poll
this season.